SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

CHAPTER 39:09
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
PRELIMINARY

    1.    Short title

    2.    Interpretation

    3.    Objects of the Act

PART II
ADMINISTRATION

    4.    Designation of Special Economic Zones Authority

    5.    Functions of the Authority

    6.    Powers of the Authority

    7.    Special Economic Zones Committee

    8.    Delegation by the Authority

PART III
DECLARATION AND OBJECTS OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

    9.    Objects of special economic zones

    10.    Type and nature of special economic zones

    11.    Criteria for declaring special economic zones

    12.    Declaration of special economic zones

    13.    Prohibition of private use of special economic zone land

PART IV
LICENSING OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

    14.    Licensing of special economic zones developers

    15.    Licensing of special economic zones operators

    16.    Licensing of special economic zones enterprises

    17.    Amendment of licences

    18.    Suspension and revocation of licences

    19.    Transfer of licences

    20.    Assignment of rights or interests in licences

    21.    Register of licenses, etc.

    22.    Notice to minister responsible for finance Commissioner General of Malawi Revenue Authority

    23.    Publication of licences

PART V
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES LAND AND SITE DEVELOPMENT

    24.    Allocation of land for special economic zones

    25.    Land use

    26.    Dedicated desk officers

    27.    Special economic zones facilities

    28.    Rights and obligations of a special economic zone developer

PART VI
TAX AND NON-TAX RELATED RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE ENTITIES

    29.    Tax related benefits

    30.    Additional fiscal and non-fiscal benefits

    31.    Non-tax related benefits of special economic zone enterprises

    32.    Non-tax related rights and benefits of special economic zone developer

PART VII
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE

    33.    Goods to be considered exported from, and imported into, Malawi

    34.    Goods and services within special economic zones

    35.    Handling of goods in special economic zones

    36.    Movement of goods within special economic zone premises

    37.    Application to remove goods from special economic zone premises

    38.    Date of removal of goods from special economic zones

    39.    Missing dutiable goods

    40.    Determination of duty and rules of origin

    41.    Exemptions from quotas or other restrictions on imports or exports

    42.    Sell or export of goods imported for licensed activities

    43.    Certain goods not to be taken into special economic zone

PART VIII
WORK PERMITS, RESIDENCY AND OTHER OPERATIONS WITHIN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES

    44.    Special economic zones one-stop centre

    45.    Special economic zones employment permits

    46.    Special economic zone residency and business operations by non-special economic zone enterprises

    47.    Regulation of retail trade in special economic zones

    48.    Essential facilities in special economic zones

    49.    Disposal of abandoned property

PART IX
BANKING AND INSURANCE SERVICES

    50.    Banking activities

    51.    Restrictions on borrowing and movement of money

    52.    Payments for goods or services

    53.    Foreign currency denominated accounts and payments in foreign currency

    54.    Insurance business

PART X
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES FUND

    55.    Establishment of Special Economic Zones Fund

    56.    Object of the Fund

    57.    Application of the Fund

PART XI
MISCELLANEOUS

    58.    Licensee to notify the Authority on failure to implement investment

    59.    Annual reports

    60.    Fees

    61.    Levy

    62.    Prohibition of unauthorized disclosure of information

    63.    Protection from liability

    64.    Power to request for documentation

    65.    Identity cards

    66.    Administrative penalties

    67.    Some special economic zones to be exempted from application of this Act

    68.    Liability of directors of bodies corporate

    69.    Offences and penalties

    70.    General penalties

    71.    Penalties for continuing offences

    72.    Regulations

        SCHEDULE

8 of 2024
G.N. 14/2024

    An Act to make provision for the declaration, designation, promotion, establishment, development, operation and regulation of special economic zones; promotion and facilitation of foreign and local investment in special economic zones; designation, powers and duties of a special economic zones Authority; and matters incidental thereto

PART I
PRELIMINARY

1.    Short title

    This Act may be cited as the Special Economic Zones Act.

2.    Interpretation

    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

    “Authority” means the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre established under section 3 of the Investment and Export Promotion Act;

    “company” has the meaning ascribed to that term under the Companies Act and includes a foreign-registered company;

    “customs territory” means the geographical area of Malawi but does not include a special economic zone;

    “duty” has the meaning ascribed to that term under the Customs and Excise Act;

    “Fund” means the Special Economic Zones Fund established under section 55;

    “goods” means all kinds of wares, articles, merchandise, animals, matter, baggage, stores, materials,…